The proposal to deploy Indian troops in Afghanistan is based on the simple logic of force fungibility. As the nuclear factor makes it unfeasible for Indian troops to directly attack Pakistan’s military-jihadi complex, India should ensure that US troops do so. The US ‘surge’ in Af-Pak is a strategic opportunity for India.

A significant Indian military presence in Afghanistan will alter the geo-strategic landscape in the extended neighbourhood, by expanding India’s power projection in Central Asia. The Pakistani establishment will be compelled to divert its energies from their eastern to their northern borders. India can counter cross-border terrorism effectively only if it has the capacity to strategically ratchet up pressure either of Pakistan’s fronts.